Rehab again?

[Brenden_E]

After stealing from me quite a few times, he won't even get a handshake.

Know about this too well. And in the end, if they don't really want to change they'll just continue repeating the cycle.
I have a ex-friend who's brain is so fried I hardly recognize the person. And from the outside I cannot see a happy ending for him.

Just stahp before you reach this point of no return.

 

[AstroTurf]

I think you'll find anyone who has worked hard in life for what they have will have little respect for an addict.

They made their choice and gave into weakness, then the constant relapses followed by the general criminal behavior.

The only way to end drug addiction is to give drug addicts hard time in prison. Rehab is far too much of a pity party and it is so "cool". I mean I think that is a big attraction to kids that don't have direction.

I mean I can understand if you got addicted to something because of a medical condition and bad prescriptions but if you are a heroin user, I feel very little sympathy.

I know I'll get a lot of hate for this post but I've had a lot of exposure to drug addicts and I honestly haven't found a person there that has every inspired me or struck me as someone who actually wants to accomplish something in life which I find hard to respect.

Wrong on the first count. many famous and not so famous people in the world that were once addicts or go out of their way to treat the disease for what it is.

Hard time in prison only turns addicts into hardened criminals with a new set of skills that will inconvenience you directly. Also, what if that Addict is your son or daughter or am I talking to a laaitie?

I also don't think rehab is the best solution. Currently South Africa has a 5% success rate at rehabilitating addicts. The whole system as it stands at present does not help the addicts or anyone else for that matter. the only people it does help are those that earn a salary from supporting the failed institution.

What if that medical condition happens to be depression, schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder or similar?

How many terminally hospitalised patients have you discovered with huge plans for life?

 

[CorneN]

LOL @ all the idiots commenting on something know nothing about. justanotheridiot & co.

If addiction should be treated with prison sentences, 90% of the planet's popuplation would be behind bars. Legal drug addiction. Gym addiction. Mybroadband addiction. Masturbation addiction. lol. Everyone has their thing. All of these could impact a person / relationship / family negatively.

OP -
Firslty, get off the pity train and man up. There are people have been through much worse and didn't need drugs for it.

You've been to rehab and given the necesarry tool set already. Identify your triggers. Get rid of your influences. All that jazz. The only reason you would want to go back is if you need a temporary break out of your life or for medical (severe physical addiction) reasons.

IMHO rehab is load of crap as you just sit around an reminisce about getting high with other idiots. Worse, you learn to do new idiotic things. Even worse are faith based rehab centre's that prey on people on their weakest seeking to replace their addiction with a even worse one. (Note - The best way to get rid iof addiction is to replace it with another. Become a gym junkie, if you must. Chicks will dig it. lol)

Sincerely,
Ex-H junkie

 

[Wall]

No experience with this issue at all.

All I will say is goodluck OP. I hope whichever choice you make, helps you on the path to recovery

 

[Wezzy777]

Just keep yourself clean one day at a time and cut out every bad friend in your life (assuming they not all bad)

You don't NEED rehab to remain clean if you want to be free from drugs just make a effort and a real effort. Dont bullschit yourself. It is not easy but if you want it bad enough you can do it.

I was also a addict at one stage in my life, never went to rehab or any of that but I got so fed up feeling like **** everyday of my life. I just cut ties with all my "friends" and spent time with family and picked up a hobby or two, 2 years later and I am still clean other than the occasional joint.

You can do it but only if you honestly want to change bad enough.

Good luck, you need it!

 

[HendrieV]

"That said, this time round the stakes are higher I have an awesome family, a upper executive management position in huge communications consortium. Life is mostly good. Children, wife, house, "picket fence" responsibilities etc. My Wife condones it, thinking I can handle it. Its becoming clear to us both it past being a manageable pass time months ago."

You don't yet have to con and steal to feed your habit. Unless you do a a complete turnaround you will soon get there after you have lost your self respect and everything you cherish. After that comes the OD. To break out of the inevitable takes more balls then most can summon so good luck.
I have just recently returned from the funeral of family member who had everything going and was in the prime of his life.

 

[Gnome]

Hard time in prison only turns addicts into hardened criminals with a new set of skills that will inconvenience you directly. Also, what if that Addict is your son or daughter or am I talking to a laaitie?

The problem as I see it is, drug addicts are pitied and get a slap on the wrist. So it is so easy for kids to think it is cool. On TV going to rehab looks awesome.

That is my point. There needs to be a clear boundary that makes the point that if you do drugs, you aren't just going to get pitied like the little dog that ****s everywhere and everyone puts up with it because "that is how he/she is and they have a problem".

And no I don't have children but most of my peers do (ie. I'm not young). Although I've spoken about it with my SO children are a huge responsibility and among other things preventing them from the harmful elements that make drugs seem "cool" is what I'd like to be able to do as a parent.

Most importantly I'm not talking about how I would act to my children, but then again I think most children would be able to avoid the whole situation if we didn't have the situation we have now.

I also don't think rehab is the best solution. Currently South Africa has a 5% success rate at rehabilitating addicts. The whole system as it stands at present does not help the addicts or anyone else for that matter.

Can't agree more.

What if that medical condition happens to be depression, schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder or similar?

Well I suffer from bipolar disorder and yeah it was **** until I started using medication (which is not addictive at all I might add). I've been on a few different types and none are addictive. Or do you mean people with such disorders are somehow excused for becoming addicts?

How many terminally hospitalised patients have you discovered with huge plans for life?

Yeah but the difference is I can have sympathy for their situation because it is not of their own making.

LOL @ all the idiots commenting on something know nothing about. justanotheridiot & co.

If addiction should be treated with prison sentences, 90% of the planet's popuplation would be behind bars. Legal drug addiction. Gym addiction. Mybroadband addiction. Masturbation addiction. lol. Everyone has their thing. All of these could impact a person / relationship / family negatively.

Ah you are one of those people. Trying to justify an addition with "everyone has an addiction". I'm not even going to bother pointing out how flawed your opinion on this is.

But I think anyone who can think clearly for themselves will realize how sad it is to even strike a comparison between the two.

My coffee addiction doesn't cause me to harm my friends and especially not my family not to mention committing a crime or become a drain on society.

 

[BobsLawnService]

Really uncalled for.

I disagree.

First of all he was stupid enough to start taking physically addictive substances knowing full well what the consequences are. Zero sympathy.

He hit rock bottom and got clean. Then he started taking small amounts then becuase he though he was in control. Now he is out of control again. Zero sympathy.

It is simple. He stops doing drugs or he is as good as dead anyway. May as well blow his brains out so he doesn't extend the pain of his family for a longer period of time. The outcome is the same either way.

 

[CorneN]

Trying to justify an addition with "everyone has an addiction".

Was I trying to justify an addiction or pointing out your senseless "cure" for one?

 

[HendrieV]

I disagree.

First of all he was stupid enough to start taking physically addictive substances knowing full well what the consequences are. Zero sympathy.

He hit rock bottom and got clean. Then he started taking small amounts then becuase he though he was in control. Now he is out of control again. Zero sympathy.

It is simple. He stops doing drugs or he is as good as dead anyway. May as well blow his brains out so he doesn't extend the pain of his family for a longer period of time. The outcome is the same either way.

Sad but true.

 

[BobsLawnService]

Jesus, **** off with this bull**** mentality please.

Oh, why don't you just go off and blaze another bowl to try to forget the fact that I showed proof that weed can trigger psychological issues in people who are susceptible.

Come back when you're not high any more and can contribute something of value to the thread.

 

[Gazbal]

OP, I suggest trying ARCA (Assisted Recovery Centre Africa). They have a rehab clinic in Durban as well as offices in Rivonia.

You will go through a three day chemical detox, followed by meds to counter-act the behavioral swings caused by withdrawal. They will also start you on a course of Naltrexone, which is an opioid receptor antagonist. Basically means that even if you do take drugs (and/or alcohol) you will not get high. It does also reduce cravings a lot.

Regarding the counselling, they utilise qualified psychologists and psychiatrists who will try get to the core of your problems. There is no religious NA/AA type of counseling. They also help you understand how the chemicals of your drug of choice effects your brain, thus effecting the rest of your body. They are not just concerned about your immediate problem but concentrate on teaching the patient how to re-train the brain.

I am an alcoholic. I have tried many times previously to stop drinking. Unfortunately my brain has always tried and succeeded to convince me that I wont relapse if i just become a social drinker. Since being to ARCA, I know that I have had my last drop of alcohol. I can not be a social drinker. I have an addictive personality. I hope they or some-one similar can help you before you totally wreck your life and your family's.

 

[demon angel]

Yep, if the previous rock bottom wasn't rock bottom enough then there is no hope for you.

May as well blow your brains out, junkie.

What a dick thing to say!

Bull**** to that statement, especially since he has poured his heart out here.


Dude its sad and i have close family who are addicts and have ended up shadows of their former selves.
If you really want to change then you can, but you are gonna be moody, shaky and very irritable,so have a plan.
Temptation will be everywhere, so you need to be stronger then the drug.
I wish you the best,and believe you can succeed,and please do go to rehab if you can.
Also consider going a psychologist or psychiatrist as they can help you change the bad patterns you have developed into a habit.
I wish you the best and see hope for you as you admit you have a problem, which most addicts deny.

 

[Bonk]

There are probably far more people addicted to prescribed meds than those using street drugs. How many people OD on the barbiturates in the past? The fact that we treat people that use so called hard drugs as criminals means that we will always struggle with this issue.

If you use street drugs you're an addict, if you struggle with prescriptions drugs its called dependence. Coming of street drugs gets called withdrawal and coming of prescription drugs gets classified as discontinuation symptom.

 

[syntax]

I am not going to reply to the less sympathetic posts, everyone has their opinion and thats ok.

I can tell you that addicts are more common than you think, and a lot of successful people you know are using narcotics in a recreational way, that could easily turn into a dangerous addiction.

For the OP, as someone who has done the rehab thing and been down some dark and truly sad roads, i think you know if rehab is going to work for you. I also think you wouldnt give a crap about what others think if you knew it was going to fix you.
When you get to that point that you realise you want to change your life, you should want to do it no matter what.

My personal experience is that if rehab didnt resolve your issues the first time, its not that likely to sort you out again.
Getting clean is a life style change and its extremely difficult. The bad news, at least for me, is it never truly goes away.
I still want to make that phone call when i am drunk, even something as simple as an upbeat mix on the radio can give me some stupid ideas. Once you can get rid of the physical addiction, which rehab might help with (although my experience is if you want drugs in there, you can get anyways), you are going to resolve the mental aspects.

How to survive the boredom and 'mundane' time on the weekends, to make the decisions to remove yourself from environments where you are going to damage yourself etc.

Have a proper discussion with your family, and get their opinion as well. no one on here is going to be able to tell you what to do, in the end, you know if you truly want to stop or not.

Some light at the end of the tunnel, everytime i make the decision not to take anything, it cements things a little more.
Occassionally I get really close, but i remove any kind of emotion, and think about how damn hard it has been so far, and how ashamed i will feel the next day when I have to look at my wife. That keeps me going.

 

[HavocXphere]

Sheesh - some hectic people in this thread.

is there any value in going back again?

I'm hardly qualified to answer this but I'd imagine it depends on whether you need medical assistance or not. Depending on the poison of your choice you might be subject to the kindling effect which might influence your decision on 2nd rehab as you might not have a choice in the matter. I'm going to take a wild guess and say we're dealing with some type of opiate here which to the best of my knowledge are not affected by this.

You're going to have to level with someone here though imo...probably your boss to take a couple of weeks unpaid.

 

[zippy]

At OP:

Can't hurt to keep trying. I doubt it will make a difference in the long run. If you didn't succeed the first time chances are you will always be a junkie in and out of rehab. Keep going to rehab to prolong your life.

 

[syntax]

At OP:

Can't hurt to keep trying. I doubt it will make a difference in the long run. If you didn't succeed the first time chances are you will always be a junkie in and out of rehab. Keep going to rehab to prolong your life.

Not really my experience. I found that some ways to rectify yourself work, some dont. Just because one way doesnt keep you clean, doesnt mean you are going to be a 'junkie' forever

 

[Slootvreter]

It's difficult to separate the person from the addiction

The problem here it it's always something else's fault. The addiction. I blame the person for making bad choices. I don't fall for the 'difficult circumstances' or 'peer pressure' excuses.

 

[smallearth]

The problem here it it's always something else's fault. The addiction. I blame the person for making bad choices. I don't fall for the 'difficult circumstances' or 'peer pressure' excuses.

+1000

There are many people abused as children that don't go out and use heroin, steal from people, and abuse others... they get on with their life. It's the addiction that made me do it seems to be the prevailing message in many of the posts in this thread. And as somebody who is a recovering addict, I know that line is bull**** of the highest order.

There is nothing noble about active addiction, it is not a SPIRITUAL WAR which people lose when relapsing... Active addiction is dirty and squalid... and anything done in addiction is ENTIRELY the responsibility of the addict...